Tensioning apparatus, superconducting magnet and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

{
  "publication_number": "US10241167B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Tensioning apparatus, superconducting magnet and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus",
  "abstract": "A tensioning apparatus for supporting a low-temperature apparatus in a vacuum vessel of a superconducting magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, has a main body that has a fixed end for fixing the main body, and a free end, a locating piece, situated between the fixed end and the free end; and an adjusting piece having a supporting part, supported between the free end and the locating piece, and an operating part, connected to the supporting part, and operable for adjusting the length of the supporting part in the direction of extension of the main body and thereby tensioning the main body.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A tensioning apparatus, comprising: a main body, comprising: a fixed end, for fixing the main body, and a free end; a locating piece between the fixed end and the free end of the main body; and an adjusting piece, comprising: a supporting part, supported between the free end and the locating piece, said supporting part comprising a bolt, the bolt comprising a first end and a second end, and the first end abutting the free end rotatably, and the locating piece comprising a through-hole, the bolt passing through the locating piece via the through-hole, and an operating part is a nut connected to the second end, and said operating part being, connected to the supporting part, and used for adjusting a length of the supporting part in the direction of extension of the main body and thereby tensioning the main body.",
    "2. The tensioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the through-hole comprises a first thread matching the bolt.",
    "3. The tensioning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locating piece also comprises a nut matching the bolt.",
    "4. The tensioning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operating part is a sleeve, an inner wall of the sleeve comprising a second thread, the second thread matching the bolt.",
    "5. The tensioning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the supporting part comprises a connecting rod, the connecting rod comprising a third end and a fourth end; the second end and the third end are disposed facing each other in the sleeve, and the fourth end abuts the locating piece rotatably.",
    "6. The tensioning apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said bolt is a bolt, and wherein the connecting rod is a second bolt matching the second thread.",
    "7. A superconducting magnet comprising: a low-temperature apparatus; a vacuum vessel in which said low-temperature apparatus is contained; and a tensioning apparatus comprising a main body comprising a fixed end, for fixing the main body, and a free end, a locating piece between the fixed end and the free end of the main body, and an adjusting piece comprising a supporting part, supported between the free end and the locating piece, and an operating part, connected to the supporting part, and used for adjusting a length of the supporting part in the direction of extension of the main body and thereby tensioning the main body; and said fixed end of said main body being connected to said low-temperature apparatus with a fixed but detachable connection, said locating piece being connected to said vacuum vessel with a fixed but detachable connection, and said vacuum vessel comprising at least one through-hole through which said main body passes.",
    "8. A magnetic resonance apparatus comprising: a magnetic resonance data acquisition scanner comprising a superconducting magnet; said superconducting magnet comprising a low-temperature apparatus and a vacuum vessel in which said low-temperature apparatus is situated; a tensioning apparatus comprising a main body comprising a fixed end, for fixing the main body, and a free end, a locating piece between the fixed end and the free end of the main body, and an adjusting piece, comprising a supporting part, supported between the free end and the locating piece, and an operating part, connected to the supporting part, and used for adjusting a length of the supporting part in the direction of extension of the main body and thereby tensioning the main body; and said fixed end of said main body being connected to said low-temperature apparatus with a fixed but detachable connection, said locating piece being connected to said vacuum vessel with a fixed but detachable connection, and said vacuum vessel comprising at least one through-hole through which said main body passes."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Field of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates to the technical field of magnetic resonance imaging, in particular a tensioning apparatus, a superconducting magnet and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus.\n\nDescription of the Prior Art\n\nIn the prior art, a cooling vessel for a superconducting magnet used in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner has the basic components of a superconducting magnet, a low-temperature holding apparatus, an outer vacuum vessel surrounding the low-temperature holding apparatus, a load-bearing support, and suspending elements. The superconducting magnet is disposed in the low-temperature holding apparatus, for the purpose of subjecting the superconducting magnet to low-temperature cooling by the low-temperature holding apparatus. The load-bearing support is used for supporting the superconducting magnet with the low-temperature holding apparatus suspended in the outer vacuum vessel by the suspending elements. Since a preload must be applied to the suspending elements, in order to ensure that all elements remain tensioned during an impact load and to ensure the vessel remains accurately aligned, threaded connecting pieces in the suspending elements, which are fastened during an assembly process step, are generally used to achieve the required preloading.\n\nThe torque needed to fasten the threaded pieces may be very large, and in certain applications, will exceed the capability of manual tools in the available space. Moreover, since the load-bearing support supports the superconducting magnet, the load-bearing support inevitably occupies the same space as the suspending elements.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01R 33/3802",
    "G01R 33/3815"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G01R 33/44",
    "G01R 33/38",
    "G01R 33/3815"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Siemens Healthcare Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Edward Wedderburn Kershaw",
    "Nicholas Mann",
    "Bu Qing Zhang",
    "Shao Kun Zhao"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-02-08",
  "publication_date": "2019-03-26",
  "grant_date": "2019-03-26",
  "priority_date": "2015-02-09",
  "application_number": "US-201615018023-A",
  "family_id": "55641947",
  "cited_by_count": 1,
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    "US20040008318A1",
    "US20050254000A1",
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    "GB2503448A"
  ]
}